The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is giving its support to the staging of legendary musical Carousel at the Gaiety Theatre.
The Manx Gilbert & Sullivan Society is producing the show, which will run at the Douglas theatre from 20th to 24th October. The Steam Packet Company is assisting with the cost of transporting scenery to and from the Island.
The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical tells the story of Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan, whose romance costs them their jobs and leads Billy into a life of crime alongside Jigger Craigin, with tragic consequences. The show also features the love story between millworker Carrie Pipperidge and ambitious fisherman Enoch Snow.
Carousel includes many well-known songs, such as If I Loved You, June Is Bustin' Out All Over and the iconic You'll Never Walk Alone.
The upcoming Manx Gilbert & Sullivan Society production of Carousel (music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II) is based on Ferenc Molnar’s Play “Liliom” as adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer. It is an amateur production by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europ and will feature Matt Quinn as Billy, Jenny Quirk as Julie, Simon Fletcher as Jigger, Marie Quinn as Carrie and Tim Keyes as Enoch.
There will also be more than 20 children in the show, including many appearing on the Gaiety Theatre for the first time.
Val Cowley, Chairman of the Manx Gilbert & Sullivan Society, said: ‘We’re really excited about staging Carousel at the Gaiety Theatre, and very grateful to the Steam Packet Company for its support. We are a registered charity which relies on support from the community and sponsors to produce shows, so the Steam Packet Company’s help is invaluable.
‘The Society’s aims are to produce spectacular shows to delight audiences, give local performers the opportunity to appear on stage and encourage youngsters by giving them their first experience of the Gaiety stage. Our production of Carousel will achieve all those aims.’
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward added: ‘The Society is putting a lot of work into this show, giving local performers, including many children, the opportunity to appear on stage. We’re delighted to be able to support the production, and wish the Society all the best for Carousel.’
Photograph: Cast from the upcoming Manx Gilbert & Sullivan Society production of Carousel, which is being supported by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (Nick Coole)
